Title: VADER'S QUEST CHRONICLES

Chapter Epilogue

Timeframe: Beginning between ROTS and ANH

Disclaimer: Star Wars is the property of George Lucas. No disrespect is intended with this story.

Notes: Thank you all for your patience!

"Dad, you're primping! You look fine. We're just going for drinks with Lando and his 'hot date' and then Han and Leia are joining us. No need for all this ---" He waved a hand around the room, indicating the clothing strewn everywhere. He didn't see the problem, as all his father's clothing looked pretty much the same, mostly black, something of a cross between Jedi Master and Han Solo. "Come, on. We'll be late. Here's your cloak. Remind me again why everything has to be black?"

Anakin smiled. "It just does. You might call it mourning for the past, for family and friends long gone. I know Jedi aren't supposed to mourn, but I feel a need to honor their memories. Besides, I like black! And I am wearing a white shirt, aren't I?" He had liked the effect of the white shirt when he'd borrowed Han's wardrobe, back on the Forest Moon. Not for everyday, but for times like tonight…. He surveyed himself in the mirror. Not bad, Skywalker; not bad at all for an ...older man. Wish Padmé could be here to see me now...He touched a forefinger to the thin dapper mustache he had cultivated and then smoothed his hair -- the implants hadn't taken but regeneration treatments seemed to be working well -- it was hair and it was his own, not that silly hairpiece. Luke had assured him that the graying blond hair looked very mature and distinguished, but he still missed his long vanished luxuriant blond curls. Did he have the miniature respirator? Yes, there it was, just in case he needed it.

He swung the cloak about his shoulders and adjusted the hood. As he did so, his blue eyes met his son's amused ones in the mirror. "All right, Son. I'm ready. Let's go." His grin broadened as he caught Luke's thoughts:

Please, before you change your clothes yet again!

"Be mindful of your thoughts, Luke. Sometimes they're far too easy to read. Remember that there are many around who are strong with the Force, but are untrained in both use and courtesy."

He suddenly laughed, hearing himself paraphrasing Obi-Wan Kenobi's words to the young Padawan Anakin of long ago. He felt wonderful, like tonight would be memorable in some way. His first real night out, even if his 'date' was his son, it was a big first step.

He climbed into the air taxi beside Luke. They shared a dislike and distrust of public transport, but both were unfamiliar with the location of the club chosen by Lando as their meeting place.

"Leave it to Lando," Luke said with a laugh. "On Coruscant only a few short weeks and he already knows all the dives on planet and off. Plus he is accepted into all the respectable places, too. I think that this is one of the respectable places..."

"It had better be," Anakin muttered, "if Han is bringing Leia there!"

"Now don't get all fatherly, Dad," Luke admonished. "Leia is a grown woman, and Han is her fiancé. And," he added quietly, "she still tends to regard Bail Organa as her father -- he did raise her!"

"I know, Son, and I do regret the necessity for that. He did an excellent job, and I wish that I could thank him!"

"His spirit knows, I'm sure, Dad." Luke's voice was quiet.

"Yes, of that I also am certain. On a lighter note, where did Lando meet this 'hot date' of his? She is respectable?" He knew that, with Lando, anything was possible.

"Oh, yes, very -- some sort of nobility or something. An older woman, very beautiful, he says. An acquaintance introduced them. Lando said she was becomingly reluctant to accept his invitation, but did so at the urging of friends. It seems she's a widow, been in deep seclusion, and like you, Dad, this is her first night out. Maybe she has a friend for you." He grinned and nudged Anakin in the ribs with an elbow.

His father smiled sadly, and shook his head. "I doubt it, Son. Your mother is irreplaceable in my heart. "

Luke just shook his head in exasperation. "I'm not asking you to replace her, Dad; just to have a little fun now and then!" He broke off as the air taxi stopped in front of a nightclub. Anakin and Luke stood staring at it a moment, then entered. They spotted Lando with no trouble, but he was alone.

"Hey Skywalker, Luke. See you found the place all right. M'lady is in the...ha-ha...1adies room; she'll be here in a minute. Sit down. How ya doin' Kid? Your dad here give you any trouble?"

Luke laughed. "No, Lando. We're both anxious to meet1his mysterious older woman of yours."

Anakin added, "I kind of like older women myself -- married one once, Luke and Leia's mother. Never quite got over her..." His voice trailed off to an embarrassed silence.

Lando abruptly stood as a petite brunette threaded her way across the room toward them. She was a slim and elegant lady, her hair delicately streaked with silver, "Here comes M'lady now!"

Anakin stared. Never quite got over her was right! Even Lando's date reminded him of his wife as he had often imagined her present appearance would be. He really did have to get out more often...

"M'lady, these are my friends, the Skywalkers, Luke and his father, Anakin --" Lando broke off as she breathlessly gasped:

"Anakin? Ani?" Lando helplessly watched his date faint into the ready arms of Luke's father.

Unbelieving, Anakin cradled her tenderly in his arms. It couldn't be -- but it apparently was. He heard Luke's crack of laughter, heard his son's amused voice apprising Lando of the obvious conclusion:

"Lando, my friend, I think your 'hot date' has turned out to be my mother!"

She opened her eyes to see her Ani's blue eyes staring down at her. She must be dreaming or imagining things. It couldn't be, could it? Anakin had become Darth Vader, a Sith lord, and he was dead, wasn't he? They had all warned her that she would go insane from the loneliness if she remained so secluded; the Emperor and Vader were gone; it was finally safe to go out, to make new friendsSo she had reluctantly consented to an evening out, accompanied by this nice young man. She liked younger men -- her husband had been younger. But poor Lando just did not attract her -- he was charming and handsome enough, but he just didn't click with her...

But this man -- who was he really? He just couldn't be Anakin, not her Anakin, could he? There, she knew it! -- they were laughing, it was some horrid joke! Even the younger man, the boy, dressed as a Jedi, of all things, had a look that reminded her of her forever lost beloved husband. She opened her eyes again, stared up into those achingly familiar blue eyes that regarded her with such tenderness, as tears streamed down his face.

"Padmé ? My angel -- it can't be! He told me that you were dead, that I had killed you in an angry rage!" Even the voice was his, a bit more raspy, more mature, but his beloved voice...

"Ani? You've grown... older."

He smiled. "And so have you... even more beautiful, I mean..."

With an unsteady laugh she completed the sentence with his long ago words -- "for a Senator, you mean?"

A shaky laugh escaped him as he caught her up into a fierce embrace. Force! Will I ever get over the awkward embarrassment of that moment all those years ago? "No, my angel. Just more beautiful! I never forgot you; you have been in my thoughts and my dreams for all these years. But... how can this be? He insisted that I had killed you! How? This is you, isn't it, Padmé ? Not some horrible clone programmed to torment and punish me for my years as a Sith lord?"

"No, Anakin, I am Padme Naberrie Skywalker, Lady Amidala, who never stopped loving her husband, although he had been seduced by a lust for power. I knew that my beloved Ani still existed somewhere within the evil shroud cast by the Dark Side. I do so love you still!"

Anakin bent to kiss his wife for the first time in a quarter of a century. As their lips met, he ignored the ragged applause from tables around them. What do they think this is -- the evening's floor show? Then he forgot all else as the kiss deepened and he began drowning in the blissfully remembered sensations of his wife's lips on his, her body against his, her arms embracing him...

With a gentle, but embarrassed cough, Luke interrupted. "Uh, Dad? Would you, um like to introduce me to my mother? And Han and Leia just came in; you'll have to introduce them, too." He raised a hand to attract the attention of the couple who had just entered the club.

Anakin reluctantly broke off kissing Padmé , but retained his tight embrace of her. He never wanted to ever again let go of her. Whatever he had done to deserve this he didn't know and really didn't care. He just prayed that it wasn't one of those dreams of Padmé that had become increasingly easier to remember upon waking, even as their erotic nature had intensified.

"Don't wake me," he whispered to her. "If this is a dream, I never want to wake up!"

She smiled up into his eyes. "If you are dreaming, then so am I! I do so love you, deeply, truly love you!"

He couldn't help himself; he kissed her again. At that very moment, no one existed but the two of them. Anakin wanted to carry Padmé off to some private place -- preferably with a very large bed--and show her exactly how much he had missed her. And from her reactions, she was of the same mind! But their son's increasingly embarrassed voice recalled him to his senses.

"Um-uh...Dad? I know that you have missed her, but, well... uh, Mother? I'm Luke, your son. And Leia here is my twin sister. We're both happy to finally make your acquaintance."

Recalled to herself, and mindful of her manners, Padmé hastily stopped the pleasurable activity of kissing her husband. She blushed, then reached out and clasped Leia's hand.

"Of course, you're my daughter! I would have known you anywhere! I was so afraid that you had perished with Alderaan, and was so thankful when I learned otherwise. You see, I knew all about you two and your activities with the Rebellion, even if I couldn't contact you -- it was safer for all of us if I didn't" Anakin winced and dropped a tender kiss onto the top of his wife's head. Padmé smiled from one of her children to the other. Joyous tears threatened to overcome her.

Anakin drew her back into his arms. "Don't cry, Padmé , beloved. You know that I can't stand to see you cry!" There were too many bad memories wrapped in his wife's tears.

"It's all right, Ani," she replied. "These are tears of joy. I never thought to have my family together. And now I do!" She included Han with a warm smile. "And you are Lando's friend Han. I suppose you are about to become a part of my family, too? And," with an amused glance at Leia's blushes, "not just by courtesy, either. Have you set a wedding date?"

Still blushing, Leia shook her head. "No, not yet; we haven't really discussed it that much, beyond knowing that we will marry one day. I am so very happy to finally get to meet you. Your husband ... Father... " She glanced at Anakin with a tight expression on her face -- at least she hadn't called him a 'filthy Sith lord' tonight! -- "talks about you -- a lot. You two certainly crammed a lot into the very short time that you had together."

Anakin kept an arm around Padmé as he turned to Lando with a grin. "I do seem to have appropriated your date, Calrissian. But we are still legally married, so I hope you can forgive me...Though truth told," he added, "I don't really care! My angel," he again turned his attention to Padmé , "would you care to join me for some... uh... intimate reminiscing?"

She laughed joyously, that laugh he loved and had never thought to hear again. "Of course, my love." With a gracious smile, she told Lando. "I have had a lovely evening, Lando, dear. Thank you. We'll see you all tomorrow! Or," with a mischievous look up into Anakin's eyes that sent tingles of anticipation through him, "maybe the day after. Well, one day soon anyway. Goodnight, everyone."

Reunited at last, Anakin and Padmé left to become intimately reacquainted. Vader's quest truly had ended at last.

The End